Owls go down fighting in district (05/13/08) The Marshall baseball seniors have never said die, but perish they did anyway Monday in the first round of the Class 3, District 13 Tournament on the MHS field. The seventh-seeded Owls gave No. 2 Kirksville a scare while slicing into a seven-run deficit in their final at-bat, but couldn't catch up during a 9-7 loss. Marshall had lost to the Tigers twice already this season, 11-1 and 7-0, but came out firing...

Lady Owls one and done (05/13/08) EXCELSIOR SPRINGS -- St. Paul Lutheran of Concordia hadn't scored against the Marshall girls' soccer team in two previous meetings this season, but finally broke through when it counted Monday. The Lady Saints got a goal in each half to claim a 2-0 decision over the Birds in the first round of the Class 1, District 13 Tournament at Excelsior Springs. In their prior matches, the Lady Owls had notched a 2-0 home victory and finished in a scoreless tie at the Smith-Cotton Tournament...

Season over for Owl netters (05/13/08) HANNIBAL -- For the first time since 2002, the season ended for the Marshall boys' tennis team short of the playoffs. The Owls were looking for their sixth straight post-season berth, but finished fifth and out of the running during the Class 1, District 4 Tournament at Hannibal -- which began Saturday and ended Monday due to rain.

Owls send six to sectional (05/12/08) MEXICO -- The gray, wet and windy conditions Saturday weren't exactly ideal for establishing new records in track and field, yet that was what the bulk of the Marshall team would need to move up the ladder toward the state meet. It didn't work out for all but a handful of Owls -- with senior Cortni Ervin the only winner in the Class 3, District 4 Championships at Mexico...

MHS Round-up/Lady Owls drop home finale (05/09/08) Even in its relatively few losses this season, the rejuvenated Marshall girls' soccer team has not been out-classed. However, Smith-Cotton dominated the Lady Owls during their home finale Thursday, a 6-1 non-conference rout. The Lady Tigers led 5-0 at halftime and emptied its bench the rest of the way...

Owls win 'surprise' game (05/07/08) It appears last Thursday's Senior Night, traditionally the final home game of the season, was a bit premature for the Marshall baseball team. The Owls were in for somewhat of a shock when the school bell rang Tuesday: the bus from Odessa had pulled up at the gate and its baseball team was unloading. ...

MHS Round-up/Owls fourth in NCMC tennis (05/06/08) HANNIBAL -- It wasn't hard to predict, but it was still a deep fall for the Marshall boys' tennis team to place fourth Saturday at the NCMC Tournament in Hannibal. The Owls (30 points) had lost head-to-head dual matches to champion Hannibal (48), Kirksville (45) and Fulton (30) -- the three teams which finished higher than them in the meet. ...

Owls win three NCMC gold medals (05/05/08) FULTON -- Marshall sophomore Matt Buford won one event and came within an eyelash of another title Friday during the NCMC Track and Field Championships at Fulton. Buford came in first in the 100-meter dash (10.9 seconds), just ahead of third-place sophomore teammate Evan Johnson (11.2), and was nipped at the wire in the 200 (23.6) by the host Hornets' Josh Butler in the 200...

Baseball/Hannibal 10, Marshall 0 (05/05/08) HANNIBAL -- Hannibal scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning Saturday to put an early end to its 10-0 NCMC victory over the visiting Marshall baseball team. Sophomore Zach Nichols threw a three-hit shutout for the Pirates, who tallied three runs in the bottom of the second. Senior Alan Ward cracked a two-run single and came in on a grounder after moving to third base on senior Raymond Chou's single...

Lady Owls beat No. 8 Moberly, fall to Kirksville (05/05/08) The Marshall girls' soccer team had its most impressive win of the season and most disappointing loss, both within 24 hours. The Lady Owls opened the weekend Friday evening by knocking off NCMC champion Moberly, 1-0. They followed that Saturday afternoon by losing another 1-0 contest to Kirksville, which had been winless in league play...

Owls cruise in home finale (05/02/08) Marshall head baseball coach Ian Verts used the occasion of Senior Night to start all eight of his upperclassmen Thursday. He may be tempted to do it again after the 11-1 licking the Owls hung on Knob Noster, the first five-inning "mercy" rule victory for the program since the playoff-bound 2006 squad opened the season with a 15-0 rout of Lexington -- a span of 55 games...

Owls drop match at Jeff City (05/01/08) JEFFERSON CITY -- The Marshall boys' tennis lost their eighth straight match, and third in the last three days, Wednesday at Jefferson City, 7-2. The contest was closer than the final score suggested. The Owls won twice in singles, by senior Ross Crawford at No. 4 -- winning a third-set tiebreaker after rallying from a loss to open the 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) tilt -- and sophomore Brandon Mullins, a 6-4, 6-4 sweep at No. 6 his first varsity singles victory...

MHS Round-up/Shoot-out again favors Lady Owls (04/30/08) The Marshall girls' soccer team may be challenged offensively when the ball is in play, but it sure knows how to find the net when the clock isn't running. The Lady Owls went through two scoreless overtime periods Tuesday, sending their NCMC home match against Fulton into a shoot-out. For the fourth time in as many tries, Marshall won on penalty kicks, 1-0...

MHS Round-up/King, Kirksville blank Owls (04/29/08) Marshall athletes are in need of an antidote for Cody King. An all-NCMC performer as a football quarterback and basketball guard, the Kirksville junior is just as good in baseball -- as he showed while tossing a shutout and smashing a three-run homer during Monday's 7-0 victory over the host Owls...

Lady Owls blanked twice at Camdenton (04/28/08) CAMDENTON -- The Marshall girls' soccer team came away from the Camdenton Tournament with only one win, and no hardware, to show for its weekend. After dropping a hard-fought 1-0 opener to Barstow of Kansas City on Friday, the Lady Owls need to go to penalty kicks to notch a 3-2 decision over Boonville -- a first-year program which has largely played against junior varsity competition -- in Saturday's consolation semifinal and lost to the Camdenton JV, 2-0, when a consolation trophy was at stake.. ...

Marshall golfers 21st at Richmond (04/28/08) RICHMOND -- The Marshall boys' golf team wasn't a factor Friday at the Richmond Tournament. The Owls finished 21st out of 22 teams in the field, a drop from their 18th-place performance last year, scoring 378 points. All three of the Marshall entries who played in the event last year improved their scores on tough Shirkey Golf Course. ...

Owls spending time on links (04/25/08) The Marshall boys' golf team is certainly getting in a lot of work, although it's mainly been in tournaments rather than practice. The Owls played in three 18-hole meets over a five-day span. Although the temperatures have been mild, the wet courses have had an adverse influence on scores...

Owls claim road field advantage (04/24/08) MOBERLY -- It's hard to win a road game in the NCMC -- particularly a close one, especially in extra innings -- but the Marshall baseball team pulled it off again Wednesday. Freshman John Lozano's two-out single in the top of the eighth inning gave the Owls an 8-7 victory at Moberly, their third win in the last four games. Being in competitive contests has become commonplace for Marshall, which has had six of its last eight games decided by two runs or less...

Owls complete sweep of Fulton (04/23/08) FULTON -- A week earlier, senior Ethan Williams' walk-off homer gave the Marshall baseball team a rare win over NCMC rival Fulton. On Tuesday, the Hornets threatened a similar home-field advantage comeback, but were stopped short during a 5-4 loss -- one resulting from their own largesse as much as anything the Owls did to them...

Girls' Soccer/Moberly 3, Marshall 0 (04/23/08) MOBERLY -- Eighth-ranked Moberly is one win away from clinching the NCMC girls' soccer title following Tuesday's 3-0 home win over Marshall, ending the Lady Owls' 10-match unbeaten string. The Lady Spartans struck first 10 minutes into the contest when senior Andie Wiesner bounced a pass into the penalty box and junior Brynne Stansberry knocked the ball into the net...

Boys' Tennis/Rock Bridge 9, Marshall 0 (04/23/08) COLUMBIA -- The Marshall boys' tennis team has struggled lately against a series of high-powered opponents, the toughest hombres of the bunch being Rock Bridge -- which blanked the Owls, 9-0, Tuesday at Columbia. While Marshall forced eight third-set tiebreakers in previous matches against Hickman and Helias, they never got that far in any of their matches against the Bruins (14-0)...

Owls win two events at Mexico track meet (04/22/08) MEXICO -- The Marshall track and field team came away from the Ron Whitaker Bulldog Classic at Mexico on Saturday with two gold medals. Junior Emmanuel Reeders took the long jump with a personal record of 20 feet, 8.25 inches. However, Reeders' exertions took him out of the 400-meter relay, forcing the Owls to scratch -- possibly denying them another victory, since the unit's best time this season was nearly a second faster than that of the winner...

Lady Owls 1-0-2 at Smith-Cotton tourney (04/21/08) SEDALIA -- The Marshall girls' soccer team wasn't able to extend its seven-match win streak over the weekend, but neither did it lose. The Lady Owls settled for a 1-1 tie against Sacred Heart on Friday to begin the Smith-Cotton Tournament. Marshall followed that with a 1-0 decision over the Smith-Cotton junior varsity Friday night and a scoreless tie with St. Paul Lutheran of Concordia -- which the Lady Owls had beaten earlier this season, 2-0, to end a 46-match winless streak -- on Saturday...

Lady Owls win seventh straight (04/18/08) For the second time this season, the Marshall girls' soccer team engaged in shoot-out with an NCMC foe and came away the winner. Mexico and the Lady Owls were tied 1-1 Wednesday through two overtime periods, so settled down to shooting penalty kicks...

Baseball/Mexico 12, Marshall 6 (04/18/08) Senior Ryan Hollenberg went five for five and drove in four runs with a pair of homers to lead Mexico to a 12-6 NCMC road win over the Marshall baseball team. The Bulldogs never trailed in the game, breaking a 2-2 with three runs in the top of the third inning, two on sophomore Ryan Hellings' single following a two-out error. Hollenberg's two-run dinger in the fourth made it 7-2...

Sacred Heart bests Owl reserves (04/17/08) The Marshall boys' golf team turned to its supporting cast Wednesday for a home dual match against Sacred Heart of Sedalia. While the top five took the day off, six of the Owls' eight players posted their lowest scores yet on Indian Foothills Golf Course -- although the Gremlins claimed the victory, 183 to 208, behind the 41 turned in by senior medalist Jaron Lucchesi...

Boys Tennis/Helias 7, Marshall 2 (04/17/08) JEFFERSON CITY -- The Marshall boys' tennis team's second trip to the U.S. 63 corridor in as many days wound up no better than the first one. The Owls lost their fourth straight match Wednesday, a 7-2 decision for Helias in Jefferson City. The Crusaders won in the top four singles spots, including senior David Landwehr's 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (10-8) overtime victory over junior Mac Evans at No. 3...

Owls win seven events at Sedalia (04/17/08) SEDALIA -- Sophomore Matt Buford was in on three gold medal-winning performances Monday as the Marshall boys' track and field team took second place at the Smith-Cotton Invitational. Buford raced past the field while winning the 100- (11.13 seconds) and 200-meter (24.51) dashes, the second time this season he's claimed victories in each event. ...

Owls beat Fulton 10-8 on Williams' walk-off homer (04/16/08) No lead is apparently safe against the Marshall baseball team. Although not as dramatic as their comeback in the final frame from a seven-run deficit to Chillicothe 10 days earlier, the Owls wiped out a 7-1 deficit late in Tuesday's home game against NCMC rival Fulton and won it 10-8 in the bottom of the seventh on a walk-off home run by senior Ethan Williams...

Marshall netters nipped at Hickman (04/16/08) COLUMBIA -- A break here, a shot there, and the Marshall boys' tennis team might have beaten Hickman for the first time in several years Tuesday at Columbia. Instead, the large mid-Missouri school won two of four third-set tiebreakers in singles to edge the Owls, 5-4...

Owls drop two matches at Marshall tennis tourney (04/15/08) The Marshall boys' tennis team suffered its first loss in its home meet since losing the finals to Hannibal in 2003. Kirksville won all three of its matches Monday to end the Owls' streak of three straight Marshall Tournament championships. The Tigers' 7-2 victory over Fulton in the first contest of the round-robin tourney gave them the title...

Owls last at Helias golf meet (04/15/08) NEW BLOOMFIELD -- Memories of their first outing at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club in New Bloomfield will not be pleasant ones for the Marshall boys' golf team. Wet grounds made a 7,000-yard course play even longer, and it was reflected in the Owls' score of 408 -- eighth among eight teams in the field...

Lady Owls win sixth match in a row (04/15/08) MEXICO -- Neither Marshall nor Mexico was considered a pre-season contender in the NCMC girls' soccer race, but there they were Monday playing for second place -- with the visiting Lady Owls notching a 1-0 decision. Marshall only had one shot on goal during the match, the result of combination passing between junior Vicky Renderos, freshman Kelsey Griffin and senior Paige Fifer -- who put away her team-high fifth goal in the ninth minute...

Jeff City squeaks by Owls (04/14/08) JEFFERSON CITY -- The Marshall baseball team's pitching and defense were good enough to win Friday at Jefferson City, but the sticks had a hard time getting together during a 3-1 non-conference loss to the Jays. The Owls out-hit Jefferson City, 6-4, but left nine runners on base -- seven in scoring position -- as hard-luck junior right-hander Cory McComas dropped his fourth decision...

Owls nipped by Moberly, 2-1 (04/10/08) From the One That Got Away Department: the Marshall baseball team's 2-1 NCMC home loss Wednesday to Moberly. The Owls out-hit the visitors, 7-6, but stranded 13 runners on base -- twice leaving the sacks packed. "I really applaud the guys' effort," remarked Marshall head coach Ian Verts. "They just struggled getting runners in."...

Owls come up empty at Sedalia meet (04/09/08) SEDALIA -- The Marshall boys' golf team's continued to struggle on the Sedalia Country Club course Monday during the Smith-Cotton Classic. The Owls finished 20th out of 23 teams with a score of 358, 23 strokes higher than the tally which placed them 18th a year ago...

Marshall wins twice at Chillicothe meet (04/09/08) CHILLICOTHE -- The Marshall track and field team didn't have much to show Friday for its participation in the Joe Shy Relays at Chillicothe. This was especially true for the young Lady Owls, who finished last among 12 teams with only 10 points. Senior Cortni Ervin accounted for all that total as the team's only medalist, winning the shot put (41 feet, 3.5 inches) for the fifth time in as many meets this season...

Owl netters improve to 6-0 (04/08/08) The Marshall boys' tennis team swept singles play handily Monday during an 8-1 non-conference home win over Lexington. The only difficulty the Owls faced was at No. 1 singles, where junior Max Bildstein won a 10-4 decision over senior Mike Looney. Senior Taylor Scarff, junior Mac Evans and sophomores John Van and Ethan Murphy all won by 10-0 counts, while senior Ross Crawford rolled to a 10-1 victory...

Owls stage incredible comeback (04/07/08) There may have been bigger moments in bigger games for the Marshall baseball program, but never a bigger comeback. Call it "The Rally" in perpetuity, for the Owls will long remember how on a chilly April morning they rose from the brink of defeat -- overcoming a seven-run deficit in the seventh inning for a 13-11 victory over Savannah in the round-robin Marshall Tournament...

Lady Owls win NCMC shoot-out (04/04/08) KIRKSVILLE -- Winning is becoming such a habit to the Marshall girls' soccer team that it is able to do so even when not playing its best. The Lady Owls claimed their fifth straight victory Thursday at NCMC rival Kirksville, a 2-1 decision on penalty kicks, despite playing their fourth match in six days -- including a 1-0 decision the previous night against defending league champion Hannibal...

Lady Owls post fourth win in a row, snap NCMC skid (04/03/08) While it remains too early to speculate on its long-term prospects, the Marshall girls' soccer team turned another major corner Wednesday. The Lady Owls made a 1-0 lead hold up for 72 minutes after scoring early in the contest and knocked off defending NCMC champion Hannibal -- their first conference win in 23 matches stretching back three seasons...

Owls eighth at Grain Valley golf tourney (04/03/08) BLUE SPRINGS -- The first 18-hole event of the season for the Marshall boys' golf team didn't go as well as hoped Wednesday. The Owls placed eighth among 11 teams in the Grain Valley Tournament, with a combined score of 369 -- 28 strokes higher than last year's fourth-place performance...

MHS Round-up/Chillicothe takes track dual from Owls (04/02/08) CHILLICOTHE -- Experience and depth went into wins by the Chillicothe boys' and girls' track and field teams during Tuesday's home dual against Marshall. The Hornets held margins of 98-43 in boys' events and 113-28 among the girls. The Owls showed strength in the boys' sprints and most field events, though. ...

Ervin champion of Mizzou Relays (04/01/08) COLUMBIA -- The track and field staff at the University of Missouri must have liked what they saw over the weekend from one of their recruits. Marshall senior shot putter Cortni Ervin won her second major meet of the season Saturday at the Mizzou Relays, and did so in convincing fashion. The two-time all-stater made her last throw her best one, reaching 41 feet, 11.5 inches, to put a distance of one foot, 11 inches over her closest challenger, Jefferson City sophomore Emily Old...

MHS Round-up/Lady Owls win Clinton tourney title (03/31/08) CLINTON -- The Marshall girls' soccer team won its first championship trophy since claiming a district title in 1999 Saturday with two victories at the Clinton Tournament, both on "golden goals." The Lady Owls went to overtime before breaking a scoreless tie in the fifth minute for a 1-0 decision in the first-round contest. Junior Vicky Renderos came up with a loose ball outside the penalty box and lofted a floater over the head of freshman goalkeeper Tabby Cox...

MHS Round-up/Owls third in home triangular (03/28/08) Senior Cody Dusenberry summed it up best when talking to his father, the coach, following Thursday's boys' golf triangular at Marshall. "His words were, 'I left a good score out there today,'" remarked Owls coach Erek Dusenberry. "Cody came off the course frozen and upset with himself due to the fact that he hit the ball better than any time this season and got nothing out of the round."...

Lady Owls end long soccer winless streak (03/27/08) Ding, dong, the streak is dead. The Marshall girls' soccer team ended a string of 46 matches and two complete seasons without a victory Wednesday with a 2-0 non-conference decision over visiting St. Paul. "At times it was a long road for us over the past few years," remarked MHS head coach Josh Posegate. "I credit the girls for sticking it out through many tough times."...

MHS' Henley named all-state (03/26/08)

Boys' Tennis/Marshall 9, Grain Valley 0 (03/26/08) The first-year Grain Valley boys' tennis program showed great promise in winning its first three MRVC matches, but was blanked 9-0 Tuesday during a non-conference dual at Marshall. The toughest singles contest was up top, where freshman Michael Draper -- son of veteran coach Randy Draper -- lost a 10-8 decision to junior Mac Evans, one of three Owls who are still battling for the No. 1 spot...

Prep Baseball/Kirksville 11, Marshall 1 (03/26/08) KIRKSVILLE -- Junior Cody King fired four shutout innings and sophomore Derek Allen had three hits for Kirksville, which handed the Marshall baseball team its third straight season-opening road loss Tuesday. The Tigers' 11-1, five-inning NCMC romp was aided by five errors for five unearned runs -- including the final two, scored on a dropped fly ball in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game on the "10-run rule."...

Boonville pounds on Owls (03/25/08) BOONVILLE -- The gap between the Marshall and Boonville baseball teams apparently widened over the last year, although most brought back the bulk of their rosters. The Owls exited the 2007 season with a 5-1 loss to the Class 3, District 14 Tournament hosts, and their return to Harley Park ended up even worse Monday with a 16-6, six-inning setback...

Owls drop diamond debut (03/24/08) LEXINGTON -- It may have helped if Marshall had been able to ease its way into the baseball season, but starting it against a powerful Lexington squad proved a tad difficult. The Minutemen got a three-hit shutout from all-state junior right-hander Joe McLaughlin during Saturday's 5-0 non-conference victory...

Lady Owls fall in NCMC opener (03/24/08) HANNIBAL -- By the time the Marshall girls' soccer team got its defensive act together Saturday, it was down two goals. The Lady Owls played better the rest of the way, but couldn't catch up to defending NCMC champion during a 2-1 road loss. The Lady Pirates (1-0, 1-0 NCMC) unloaded 17 shots on goal, 11 during the first half. ...

Five make all-district squad (03/21/08)

Lady Owls blanked in opener (03/21/08) The Marshall girls' soccer team was unable to crack the net during its season opener Thursday, a 2-0 non-conference home loss to Warrensburg. The Lady Tigers (1-0) scored early in each half, both off of steals -- by senior Stephanie Rizzolo three minutes into the contest and sophomore Brenna Lacaillade in the fourth minute of the second half...

Owls second in golf triangular match (03/21/08) WARRENSBURG -- The Marshall boys' golf team turned in a respectable score during Thursday's triangular match at Warrensburg. Unfortunately, the Tigers (2-0) were better -- a whole lot better, posting a 161. Warrensburg's junior varsity even shot a stroke lower than the Owls, whose 175 was good enough for second place ahead of the 192 turned in by Sacred Heart...

MHS Round-up/Ervin wins gold medal at UCM meet (03/20/08) WARRENSBURG -- Marshall senior Cortni Ervin let everyone know that she's going to be the girl to beat in the shot put this season. The University of Missouri recruit easily won the event Monday at the University of Central Missouri's Mule Indoor Relays. Her throw of 38 feet, 2.5 inches -- well shy of her school record -- was more than three feet longer than the second-place challenger...

Spring '08 Prep Preview … MHS Baseball/New era begins with senior group (03/17/08) The Marshall baseball team is being guided by its fourth head coach in as many years, but there's a good chance this one could stick. After Mike Godfrey led the Owls to a district title in his only season, Mike Baker's lame-duck 3-12 season a year ago was a setback. However, Marshall native Ian Verts, the No. 1 pitcher on the Owls' only NCMC championship squad in 1999, is taking over the club with a clear idea of what is needed to make it successful...

Spring '08 Prep Preview ... MHS Track/Owls bring back exciting prospects (03/17/08) The weather hasn't cooperated with the preseason training program imagined for Marshall track and field coaches Jim Papreck and Gwen Clemens, who take over from Paul Thomas as the respective boys' and girls' mentors after serving several years on the staff...

Spring '08 Prep Preview … MHS Girls' Soccer/Outlook brighter for Lady Owls (03/17/08) Winning has been a rare thing for the Marshall girls' soccer program in the 2K millennium. In the early days of the NCMC, the Lady Owls were a contending club, but they haven't had a winning season since claiming their only district title in 1999. Marshall enters the '08 season having gone nearly three years and 44 matches without a victory, a streak second-year head coach Josh Posegate expects to end in a hurry...

Spring '06 Prep Preview ... MHS Boys' Tennis/Owls putting together mostly new line-up (03/13/08) With only two of the top six players returning for the Marshall boys' tennis team, veteran head coach Susan Carney is "looking for these guys to step up ... just like last year." The Owls had to replace the Nos. 1 through 3 singles spots a year ago, but fashioned a 10-5 record - all of the regular season losses at the hands of the four largest schools in mid-Missouri - beat all four NCMC opponents they faced head-to-head and placed second in the conference tournament, and reached the MSHSAA Class 1 playoffs for the 12th time in 15 years.. ...

Spring '08 Prep Preview ... MHS Boys' Golf/Owls mix experience, youth on course (03/12/08) The Marshall boys' golf team will be looking for new leadership when it hits the courses this season. Gone are two of the program's bulwarks, four-year starters Connor Lamberson and Nick Fowler. Both were part of the Owls' last state-qualifying squad, and both reached the MSHSAA Class 3 Championships individually -- including Lamberson for the second time last year...

MHS' Ervin signs with Mizzou (03/06/08) Cortni Ervin is a very busy young lady. The Marshall High School senior is President of the Student Council, a National Honor Society student, member of the choir and Bird Cage, and activities even she can't easily remember. And soon, she'll be a college student-athlete, having signed an NCAA Division I letter-of-intent to perform track and field at the University of Missouri...

Storm swarms Lady Owls (02/28/08) ST. JOSEPH -- The relentless defensive pressure exerted by Notre Dame de Sion of Kansas City proved too much for the Marshall girls' basketball team to handle Wednesday during a 56-43 loss in the MSHSAA Class 4 Sectional at St. Joseph. That came as no surprise to Lady Owls head coach Tom Hayob...

Lady Owls face metro power (02/27/08) Notre Dame de Sion begins its post-season today against the Marshall girls' basketball team with vivid memories of past successes among its handful of upperclassmen. While the Lady Owls were still in grade school the last time their home town team reached the playoffs, the Kansas City Catholic institution reached the Class 5 state championship game -- losing to Incarnate Word of St. Louis, 43-31. None of the current Crusaders (19-8), though, were regulars that season...

Lady Owls grab district title (02/25/08) EXCELSIOR SPRINGS -- It seemed as though the Marshall girls' basketball team would always be the bride's maid, never the bride. That is until Saturday, when the Lady Owls finally beat ninth-ranked Grain Valley -- after twice losing tournament championship games to the Lady Eagles -- to secure the Class 4, District 14 title, 48-44, and advance into the MSHSAA playoffs...

Kearney again ends Owls' season (02/25/08) EXCELSIOR SPRINGS -- The No. 1 seed which was cast out of the Class 4, District 14 Tournament during the semifinals a year ago tried to turn the tables on the favorites Friday. Unfortunately, the Marshall boys' basketball team didn't quite have the shots in them to upset Kearney, dropping a 55-45 decision when the Bulldogs went on an 11-5 run late in the game. But the Owls gave it their best shot...

Lady Owls return to district finals (02/21/08) EXCELSIOR SPRINGS -- The Marshall girls refuse to lose. The third-seeded Lady Owls appeared to be on mission when it came down to crunch time Wednesday in the Class 4, District 8 Basketball Tournament semifinal against No. 2 Kearney, scoring the game's last 10 points to take a 45-37 victory...

Resurgent Owls send Odessa home (02/20/08) EXCELSIOR SPRINGS -- Senior Anthony Thompson scored 15 second-half points Tuesday during the Marshall boys' basketball team's 51-45 victory over Odessa in the first round of the Class 4, District 14 Tournament at Excelsior Springs. The presence of the talented point guard, the only holdover from the Owls' 2006 district champion, was critical down the stretch. ...

Odessa gives Lady Owls a scare (02/19/08) EXCELSIOR SPRINGS -- Senior Courtney Henley's two free throws with 3.5 seconds left turned defeat into victory for the Marshall girls' basketball team Monday. The third-seeded Lady Owls, after jumping out to an early 10-point lead, found themselves locked in a struggle at the end with No. 6 Odessa before pulling out a 50-49 decision in the first round of the Class 4, District 14 Tournament at Excelsior Springs...

Musick nabs state medal (02/19/08) ST. PETERS -- The best came last for Marshall senior Laura Musick. Twice Musick had left the MSHSAA Girls' Swimming Championship without a medal. Given her seeded times going into this year's state meet at the St. Peters Rec-Plex, she wasn't expected to do it on her final try either...

Four medal as Owls take 10th at state (02/18/08) COLUMBIA -- The second day of the MSHSAA Class 2 Championships was filled with land mines for the Marshall wrestling team. The Owls suffered some setbacks, invariably to higher-ranked grapplers, but rebounded during the wrestleback rounds to finish 10th for the third time since 2003 -- earning four all-state medals along the way...

Owls end eight-game skid (02/18/08) KIRKSVILLE -- The Marshall boys' basketball team may look to the past for inspiration for the coming week. In 1997, the Owls had won only three games before ending the regular season with a home win over Kirksville -- then, led by sophomore Clarence Chillers, won three in a row to win the district title at Richmond...

Lady Owls win NCMC finale (02/18/08) KIRKSVILLE -- The Marshall girls played textbook road basketball Friday to close out the regular season with a 54-44 victory at NCMC rival Kirksville, avenging their December home loss to the Lady Tigers. The Lady Owls dominated the first quarter, going on a 17-point spree -- each starter contributing points -- after Kirksville sank two early free throws. While Marshall made six of eight shots from the field, the Lady Tigers missed all nine...

Lady O's hold off Santa Fe, 46-30 (02/18/08)

Owls in ninth place at state (02/15/08) COLUMBIA -- Seven in, seven still alive for the Marshall wrestling team. All of the Owls' entries moved into the second day of the MSHSAA Class 2 Championships at Columbia, with five winning their opening matches Thursday. Marshall is in ninth place with 18.5 points, with the opportunity to move up since none of the four teams immediately in front have more entries remaining...

Musick competing at state meet (02/15/08)

Marshall's Weber in Grand Prix (02/15/08) COLUMBIA -- Marshall junior Mason Weber will be going up against some of the world's top swimmers this weekend during the Toyota Grand Prix at the Mizzou Aquatic Center. Weber, a three-time state medalist, is entered in seven events, three of which will include Michael Phelps -- who won six gold medals in the 2004 Olympic Games and last year beat his own world record in the 100-meter butterfly at this meet. The highest Weber is seeded is 31st, in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke...

Iowa junior college signs two football Owls (02/14/08) Marshall seniors Anthony Thompson and Kyle Farrelly will be heading north to continue their football careers. The two Owls recently signed an NJCAA letter of intent with North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. The Trojans are coming off a 7-4 season, 5-3 for second place in the Midwest Football Conference West Division, and are coached by Scott Strohmeier -- an assistant at Truman State University while former Owls Marcus Yokeley and Chandler Terry played for the Bearcats...

Owls' comeback bid falls short against Helias (02/13/08) It looked like Senior Night might be a big one for the upperclassmen on the Marshall boys' basketball team Tuesday. Senior Jared Porter responded to a rare start by draining three jumpers from outside the arc during the first quarter. Unfortunately for the Owls, that would be all they got that period -- and those long shots weren't falling at the end of a 39-34 non-conference loss to Helias in the Burns Athletic Center at Missouri Valley College...

Henley tops 1,000 points during Lady Owls' win (02/13/08) Senior Courtney Henley's second three-pointer of the game Tuesday pushed her over the 1,000-point career scoring mark, Marshall rolling over winless Moberly for an NCMC home victory, 55-29. The Lady Owls quietly built a substantial lead, a 14-4 second period widening the margin to 15 points at halftime. Henley was without a field goal during the first half, although went six for six from the free-throw line. She hit a bomb during the third quarter and reached her milestone early in the fourth...

Lady Owls win NCMC road game (02/11/08) MEXICO -- The Marshall girls' basketball team got off to a slow start offensively Saturday, but in reality were not threatened by Mexico during a 49-34 NCMC road win. The Lady Owls only scored nine points during the first quarter, but still led by five points before going on a 36-17 tear during the middle two periods...

Owls take district mat title (02/11/08) Wrestling may be among the most individual of sports, but the concept of "team" still runs strong. Such was the case during the MSHSAA Class 2, District 2 Tournament Friday and Saturday at Marshall High School, where what may have seemed like minor contributions loomed large in the Owls' march to their first title since 1979...

Lady Owls fend off Oak Grove, 57-52 (02/08/08) OAK GROVE -- Some sharp free-throw shooting down the stretch allowed the Marshall girls' basketball team survive a challenge from Class 4, District 14 foe Oak Grove for a 57-52 non-conference road win. The Lady Owls got 13 first-half points from senior Courtney Henley -- taking up the slack caused by an illness to junior Jessica Harriman, Henley's usual partner in the paint -- for a six-point lead at the break...

Moberly dispenses with Owls (02/08/08) MOBERLY -- Moberly ran its NCMC win streak to seven games Thursday with a 59-34 waltz over the visiting Marshall boys' basketball team. After a close first quarter, the Spartans took command during the second frame with an 18-5 run -- seniors Caleb Lewis, Joe Halterman and Eric Saunders each making a pair of shots. ...

Marshall native O'Neal to be MSHOF inductee/Head coach for 28 years at Hardin-Central (02/07/08) Gary O'Neal's Hardin-Central football teams were a lot like the coach himself. The Bulldogs weren't usually the biggest or fastest players around, but they were tough, scrappy and disciplined. And they were winners -- 239 times during O'Neal's 28 years as head coach. Enshrined in 1996 as a member of the Missouri High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame, O'Neal will receive a greater honor Sunday when he is inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame at Springfield...

Sports (02/05/08) Mexico 64, Marshall (B) 44 MEXICO -- Mexico doubled its six-point halftime lead in the first two minutes of the second half Monday and disposed of the visiting Marshall boys' basketball team with a 64-44 NCMC win. The Bulldogs got a pair of early three-pointers from junior Michael Howard, but it was senior Alex Gardner who used his strength inside to score 10 of his game-high 14 points during the first half. ...

Sports (02/04/08) 'Hounds fall twice at Concordia CONCORDIA -- The Sweet Springs boys' basketball team did some running and did some gunning Friday. Unfortunately for the Greyhounds, they didn't do much making -- sinking only 10 of 77 shots during an 80-36 I-70 Conference loss at Concordia...

Lady Owls pounds out NCMC win (02/04/08) The Marshall girls' basketball team hadn't won at home since its season opener, but ended that five-game slump Saturday by banging out a 55-44 decision against NCMC rival Hannibal. While the Lady Pirates never led after the scoring the game's first basket, neither did they fold when trailing by double digits. Ultimately, though, Hannibal couldn't make enough shots -- sinking only 25.0 percent of its second-half field-goal attempts -- to overcome the Lady Owls' efficient 45.7-percent production...

Owls drop fifth straight (02/04/08) The nexus between desperation, aggression and mediocrity produced an ugly, yet compelling, NCMC boys' basketball game Saturday at Marshall. Both the Owls and visiting Hannibal were hoping to end four-game losing streaks, but at least the Pirates had their full contingent of players. Not so for Marshall, which was without three starters from the Dec. 14 meeting at Hannibal...

Lady Owls win six times at Belton meet (02/01/08) HARRISONVILLE -- The Marshall girls' swim team won five of eight individual events and one of the two relays it entered Wednesday during the five-team Belton Duals at Harrisonville. The Lady Owls didn't fare well in team scoring since it only had seven girls available, their numbers thinned even further by a traffic accident the previous week in which sophomore Cassi Johnson received minor injuries...

Hoops games rescheduled (01/30/08) Tuesday's snowstorm caused the postponement of several Saline Area high school basketball games. The Marshall boys' NCMC contest at Moberly has been rescheduled for Feb. 7, although the Lady Owls' home tilt against Chillicothe -- which was snowed out on its original Dec. 8 date -- has been canceled...

Hannibal sweeps Lady Owls (01/30/08) HANNIBAL -- It wasn't the lack of depth alone which led the a 120-44 loss by the Marshall girls' swim team Friday at Hannibal, although that was a factor. The main reason for the disparity is that the Lady Pirates are very talented, and very young. A core group of freshmen has produced squad which can compete with any Missouri school its size -- and most larger ones, too, as it proved recently against a solid field at the Smith-Cotton Invitational...

Owls still battling numbers (01/29/08) KIRKSVILLE -- While Marshall wrestlers are winning most of their individual battles, casualties are losing wars for the team. That was the mostly the case Saturday during the Tiger Classic at Kirksville, when all three of the Owls' dual defeats could be substantially attributed to injuries and illnesses -- the latter forcing two 2007 MSHSAA Class 2 Championships qualifiers, state-ranked seniors Coldy Finnley (112 pounds) and Corey Smith (125), off the mat...

Lady Owls downed by Helias, 54-39 (01/29/08) The Marshall girls' basketball team took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter Monday, but faltered down the stretch during a 54-39 non-conference home loss to a strong Helias club. The Lady Owls trailed by six points at halftime, but only had two turnovers and didn't give up a defensive rebound during a 13-4 third period -- getting six points from senior Courtney Henley during the frame...

No Showdown three-peat for Lady Owls (01/28/08) GRAIN VALLEY -- The Marshall girls' basketball team finally hit a wall Friday. After playing excellent hoops over a seven-game span, winning six of them, the Lady Owls struggled in their third straight Sonic Showdown championship game -- losing the title they held the last two years to host Grain Valley, 55-41...

2008 prep grid districts, schedules announced (01/28/08) The Marshall football team will have familiar foes with which to contend in Class 4, District 8 the next two years. The Owls were put into a loop with NCMC rivals Hannibal and Kirksville, along with holdover district member Helias, in the biennial redistricting released Friday by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). ...

Owl grapplers romp on Mexico's mat (01/25/08) MEXICO -- For once, weight class vacancies worked in favor of the Marshall wrestling team. Mexico's line-up had even more holes than the Owls', but that was hardly the difference in Marshall's 47-21 NCMC road win Thursday. The Birds won six of the nine bouts for a come-from-behind victory...

Defending champion Owls knocked out of Showdown (01/25/08) GRAIN VALLEY -- Last year both the Marshall boys' and girls' basketball teams brought home championship trophies from the Sonic Showdown at Grain Valley. While the Lady Owls will try to retain their two-year hold on the title, their male counterparts can only sit and watch this weekend after being eliminated from the tournament for the first time Thursday with a 47-43 loss to Paseo of Kansas City...

Lady Owls back in Showdown finals (01/24/08) GRAIN VALLEY -- In the land of the giants, Amy Durham stood tallest. The senior point guard controlled the action during the second half for the Marshall girls' basketball team Wednesday as it beat a big, talented -- and young -- club from O'Hara of Kansas City in the semifinal round of the Sonic Showdown at Grain Valley, 52-33...

Musick wins at large metro meet (01/23/08) By Chris Allen Sports Editor RAYTOWN -- The Marshall girls' swimming team had five top-10 finishes and set seven personal records over the weekend at the 24-team Raytown Invitational. The Lady Owls' schedule has been heavy of late, with six meets since the first of the year, and didn't enter a full line-up...

Owls get six medals at Platte County (01/22/08) PLATTE CITY -- The Marshall wrestling team has had more glorious weekends. The Owls got off to a slow start Friday at the Platte County Invitational, rebounding slightly on Saturday to finish ninth among 12 teams in a power-laden meet. Six of Marshall's 12 entries won medals, including senior Coldy Finnley (112 pounds) and sophomore Brian Bergstrom (171) with second-place performances...

Prep Hoops Round-up/Lady 'Hounds romp in tourney debut (01/22/08) WINDSOR -- The Sweet Springs girls' basketball team responded to their disappointing Homecoming loss Friday to I-70 Conference rival St. Paul by whipping Calhoun, 66-31, Monday in the first round of the Windsor Tournament. Five Lady Greyhounds scored in double figures, led by junior Stephanie Krause with 13 points. That was matched by Melanie Hendricks of the Lady Eagles (1-11), who found themselves buried when Sweet Springs went on a 17-4 run after coming out of halftime with a 14-point lead...

Lady Owls dominate in Showdown opener (01/22/08) GRAIN VALLEY -- The Marshall girls' basketball team is apparently serious about defending the Sonic Showdown title it has won the last two years. Despite playing for the third time in four days, with only one player coming off the bench, the Lady Owls showed no signs of fatigue Monday during a 59-33 romp over a solid Knob Noster club in the first round of the tournament at Grain Valley...

Santa Fe's Gregory relishes being a Tiger (01/22/08) COLUMBIA -- It was heady stuff for a self-described "farm boy" from rural Blackburn. The University of Missouri football program's historic ride to the top of the national rankings, a Big 12 North Conference championship and Cotton Bowl victory were beyond anything Kurtis Gregory could imagine in his childhood dreams. Yet, the red-shirt sophomore offensive lineman, a four-time all-state player at Santa Fe, believes he could have been happy without such success...

Lady Owls third at Sedalia tourney (01/21/08) SEDALIA -- "If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small," The Bible cautions. The Marshall girls' basketball team demonstrated over the weekend that it lacks neither strength nor faith while taking third place in the McDonald's Lady Tiger Classic at Sedalia...

Fulton wins rematch over Owls (01/21/08) FULTON -- The Marshall boys' basketball team was unable to completely overcome a slow start, although it tried, during a 62-50 NCMC loss Friday at Fulton. The Hornets got three early buckets from senior Kaharri Ray to jump out to a 16-6 first-quarter lead, while two of the Owls' starters -- senior Anthony Thompson and sophomore Lucas Hart -- were saddled with two fouls...

Lady Owls win three events at Truman (01/18/08) As the antihistamine ads on TV tell us, this is cold and flu season. It was therefore little surprise when three members of the Marshall girls' swimming team were under the weather Tuesday, leaving the depth-challenged Lady Owls in a poor position for scoring during the Truman Duals at Independence. Marshall fell to meet-dominating Lee's Summit North, 226-66; William Chrisman, 103-100; and the host Lady Patriots, 175-84...

Lady Owls blitz the "Burg, again (01/17/08) SEDALIA -- Facing the Marshall girls' basketball team for the second time in five days was no more fun for Warrensburg than the initial meeting. The Lady Owls won the rematch, 61-26, in the first round of the McDonald's Lady Tiger Classic at Sedalia on Wednesday just as decisively as they did Friday's tilt at Warrensburg, 58-22...

No. 10 Moberly too much for Owls (01/16/08) Against an ordinary foe, the Marshall boys' basketball team's effort Tuesday may have been enough to prevail. But there's nothing ordinary about 10th-ranked Moberly, as it proved Saturday by winning the tough State Fair Tiger Classic at Sedalia. The Spartans shook off the pesky Birds late in the first half and fended off later charges for a 68-51 NCMC road win...

Lady Owls capture six medals at Sedalia (01/15/08) SEDALIA -- The Marshall girls' swimming team saved the best for last Saturday during the Smith-Cotton Invitational. The Lady Owls have put a renewed emphasis on the 400-yard freestyle relay, and it paid off when the quartet of senior Laura Musick, sophomore Kate Hartley and freshmen Katie Wells and MacKenzie Godsey placed first among 15 teams with a time of 4:13.11 -- beating second-place Springfield-Hillcrest by 3.20 seconds...

Lady Owls hammer Warrensburg/'Cats fall twice in L&C twinbill (01/14/08) Lady Owls hammer Warrensburg WARRENSBURG -- The Marshall girls' basketball team jumped on Warrensburg from the opening tip-off Friday en route to a dominating 58-22 non-conference road win. The Lady Owls opened the game with a 17-4 first-quarter run, and followed it with a 15-2 second period to go into halftime with an insurmountable 32-6 lead. The struggling Lady Tigers (1-9) were out-rebounded 35-17 and made only nine of 35 field-goal attempts...

Owls split final tourney games (01/14/08) SEDALIA -- First-year Marshall head boys' basketball coach Richard Berry is hoping his team has finally learned a valuable lesson: the Owls are not a running club. That was amply demonstrated over the weekend during the State Farm Tiger Classic at Sedalia. ...

Owls knock Helias off mat (01/11/08) What if they held a wrestling match and nobody came? There was certainly a paucity of activity Thursday during Marshall's home dual match against Helias of Jefferson City, with bouts in only eight of the 14 weight classes. For once, though, the Owls were at no disadvantage -- with three openings per team -- and won five times for a 38-33 non-conference victory...

Lady Owl swimmers sink Smith-Cotton (01/11/08) SEDALIA -- The Marshall girls' swimming team demonstrated that large numbers aren't always necessary to win in the pool. The Lady Owls didn't have as many entries Wednesday as host Smith-Cotton, which even had three divers added to its line-up, but still won the dual meet, 95-92. Marshall took two of the three relays, while also placing first in six of eight individual events -- setting six personal records...

Marshall matmen win NCMC opener (01/10/08) FULTON -- The move of senior 215-pound state medalist Aaron Gibson to heavyweight paid off for the Marshall wrestling team Tuesday in its NCMC debut. Both the Owls and Fulton had openings in the final two weight classes, so instead of settling for a draw down the stretch, MHS head coach Jim Heinzler put Gibson -- who hasn't wrestled at 275 pounds -- up against freshman Cody Hutchason...

Lady Owls second at meet (01/09/08) PARKVILLE -- The Marshall girls' swimming team won seven events Saturday to finish second in the Park Hill Invitational at Parkville. Although the host school had the numbers to notch a sizable victory with 331 points, the Lady Owls' 175 points were 21 more than third-place Platte County for second among 19 teams -- some of which were junior varsity squads. Marshall won both of the relay races and five of the seven individual events in which it had entries...

Owls falter down stretch during loss (01/07/08) The Marshall boys' basketball team got off to a rough start and finished poorly during Friday's 48-38 non-conference home loss to Smith-Cotton. In between, the Owls had long stretches of solid play, pulling ahead by the middle of the second quarter. However, Marshall's offensive difficulties continued, with only two points during the final four minutes to see what had been a tie game slip out of reach...

Two Owls golden at MHS tourney (01/07/08) Coming off an encouraging performance two weeks earlier at a large Springfield tournament, the Marshall wrestling team had reason to be optimistic about how it would do in its home meet. However, the Owls' hope of reclaiming the championship they won two years ago were dashed even before the 35th Marshall Invitational got under way Saturday. ...

Revamped Owls dump Warsaw (01/02/08) SEDALIA -- The Marshall boys' basketball team adjusted to its first game without center Nathan Cato, and with a redesigned system to minimize the loss, by pounding hapless Warsaw, 58-36, Saturday in the State Fair Community College/W-K Chevrolet-Buick Holiday Shoot-out at Sedalia...

Kirksville dumps Lady Owls (12/19/07) Given how Kirksville denied the Marshall girls' basketball team an outright NCMC championship with an overtime win in the regular season finale a year ago, one might think revenge would be on the Lady Owls' agenda during their first 2007-08 meeting...

Tigers dispose of Marshall boys (12/19/07) A 20-7 second-quarter spree gave previously-winless Kirksville a 16-point halftime lead, which it wouldn't relinquish during a 64-51 victory over the Marshall boys' basketball team Tuesday at Missouri Valley College. After falling behind 9-3 in the first two minutes, the Owls clawed back. ...

Mat Owls beat Versailles (12/19/07) The Marshall wrestling team seemed none the worse for wear following a two-week layoff, whipping Versailles in a non-conference home dual match Tuesday, 54-24. Half of the Tigers' points came from defaults, with the Owls winning eight of 10 bouts -- seven by fall. ...

Pirates come up big in MHS meet (12/18/07) The arrival of some fresh talent has been a boon to the Hannibal girls' swimming team. Led by freshmen Heather Land, Samantha Cockrell and JaLynn Gieseke -- each of whom won two individual events -- the Lady Pirates dominated the second annual Marshall Invitational, held Friday at the Salt Fork YMCA...

Owls get sweep at Hannibal (12/17/07) HANNIBAL -- Anthony Thompson celebrated his return to the line-up following a three-game suspension Friday by leading the Marshall boys' basketball team to a 54-51 overtime win at NCMC rival Hannibal. The senior point guard tied the game on a lay-up with 20 seconds remaining, then tallied five points -- including the game-winning bucket -- during the extra frame. ...

Owls' McCoy gets MSCA award (12/12/07) Marshall's Chris McCoy has been named to the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association's 2007 Class 2 Central All-Region team. A first-team all-NCMC selection, McCoy (4) led the 10-14 Owls with 14 goals and 38 points. His eight assists were second on the club to the 11 racked up by all-conference senior Ricardo Lemus. McCoy, a junior midfielder, was chosen as the region's "offensive player of the year."...

Fulton puts hurt on struggling Owls (12/10/07) Those hoping Marshall's lackluster football season would reverse itself during the boys' hoops campaign were probably not encouraged by Friday's 72-42 whipping at the hands of visiting NCMC rival Fulton. The Hornets scored the game's first 17 points, a combined 15 by senior Kaharri Ray and sophomore Verdis Lee, and led 29-3 after the first quarter. ...

Lady Owls win six times in debut (12/07/07) WARRENSBURG -- The Marshall girls' swim team opened the 2007-08 season by winning six of 11 events Thursday at the Warrensburg Quad. The Lady Owls introduced a pair of freshmen whose years of experience in USA Swimming-sanctioned competition are expected to pay off royally -- and did in their debuts. MacKenzie Godsey won both the 200- (2:20.07) and 500-yard (6:17.23) freestyle races and versatile Katie Wells placed first in the 200 individual medley (2:38.92)...

Lady Owls pound Moberly (12/06/07) MOBERLY -- The Marshall girls' basketball team was so upset by losing its NCMC opener to Fulton two days earlier that it took it out on winless Moberly during Wednesday's 54-23 road win. Senior Amy Durham drained a pair of three-pointers as the Lady Owls rolled out to a 16-8 first-quarter lead, which was the high point for the Lady Spartans' offensive production. They wouldn't score more than six points in any of the remaining periods...

Prep Hoops Round-up/Owls beaten in NCMC debut (12/05/07) For the second night in a row, an opponent with no player over 6-foot-1 used its quickness to beat the Marshall boys' basketball team. Visiting Mexico went on a 15-5 third-quarter run Tuesday to defeat the Owls in their NCMC opener, 49-34. Senior Alex Gardner scored eight of his game-high 18 points during the decisive stretch for the Bulldogs...

Warrensburg gets best of Owl matmen (12/05/07) WARRENSBURG -- Warrensburg won eight of 10 bouts Tuesday to take a 48-18 non-conference win over the visiting Marshall wrestling team. The individual matches were generally closer than the final score indicated, with only half of the Tigers' wins by fall. The contest began with a dandy at 160 pounds, where Class 3 all-state junior Austin Gladbach edged Owls junior Jerrad Kelly, 7-4...

Marshall 2-3 at metro meet (12/04/07) KANSAS CITY -- The Marshall wrestling team is slowly coming up to full strength, but wasn't strong enough to defeat three of its five dual opponents Saturday during the Park Hill Tournament at Kansas City. In fairness, those three losses were all to state-ranked foes, although in none of them were the Owls' two open weight classes a significant factor. The only Marshall grappler to get through the day unscathed was all-state senior Aaron Gibson, winning all four of his 215-pound bouts...

Lady Owls drop NCMC opener against Fulton (12/04/07) The Marshall girls' basketball team's defense of the NCMC championship it shared a year ago got off to a shaky start Monday with a 42-39 home loss to Fulton. The Lady Hornets jumped out to an 11-2 lead and was never caught. Junior Kristin Willer, a 6-foot-3 center, scored three first-quarter buckets and junior forward Rachel Breshears also tallied six points during Fulton's early 17-5 run...

Owls fade at the end (12/04/07) CHILLICOTHE -- If the fate of the Marshall boys' basketball team is inexplicably tied to that of all-NCMC senior point guard Anthony Thompson, then his absence may have been decisive during Monday's 62-55 loss at Chillicothe. The Hornets used their quickness to full advantage to eventually pull out a contest which swung back and forth until the closing minutes. ...

Lady Owls beaten for title in final seconds (12/03/07) Senior Cory Hutchens had been quiet most of the night, but came up big down the stretch Friday as Grain Valley won the second annual Marshall Tournament championship with a 47-45 decision over the top-seeded Lady Owls. Hutchens got the ball in transition and launched a shot from the corner to hit a game-winning three-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining as the Lady Eagles erased a six-point deficit over the final five minutes...

Prep Hoops Round-up/Lady Owls squeak by in season opener (11/30/07) For a little more than a half, the Marshall girls' basketball team's season opener went about as well as could be expected Thursday -- a little rough, but not especially pressing. Then the Lady Owls suffered a cold spell and saw a 14-point lead erased by Boonville before pulling out the semifinal victory in the second annual Marshall Tournament, 46-43...

Wrestling/Marshall 49, Chillicothe 24 (11/30/07) CHILLICOTHE -- The Marshall wrestling team still wasn't up to full strength, but it didn't matter Thursday during its 49-24 non-conference win at Chillicothe. The Owls had four open weight classes, but only three counted against them -- giving the Hornets (0-1) 18 of their 24 total points. Marshall won seven of eight contests on the mat, the only exception being a pin by junior heavyweight Justin Followwill in the final bout of the evening...

Smith-Cotton halts Owls in tracks (11/27/07) The short-handed Marshall wrestling team began the season sooner than it wanted Monday, before all of its athletes finished testing, and dropped its opener at home to Smith-Cotton, 40-33. It was a nice homecoming for Tigers head coach Tim Washington, a Marshall and Missouri Valley College grad, as his club split the 10 contested weight classes -- but got a net of 12 points from defaults...

Owls come back, pull away from Boonville (11/27/07) At halftime of his first game as a high school varsity head coach, Marshall's Richard Berry must have wondered what he signed up for. The Owls had been a little sluggish out of the gate Monday, but then found a spark -- scoring 27 third-quarter points and protecting their lead down the stretch at the free throw line for a 66-56 non-conference over Boonville at the Burns Athletic Center...

Winter '08 Prep Preview ... MHS Wrestling/Owls thin, but solid on mat (11/26/07) The mat room in the Little Gym at Marshall High School won't be very crowded this winter. The Owls only have 24 grapplers involved, the lowest total in 12 years for head coach Jim Heinzler. "I'm really thin in numbers," Heinzler remarked. "They're all seniors, too."...

2007 All-NCMC Boys' Soccer (11/15/07) First Team Second Team...

2007 All-NCMC Volleyball (11/14/07) First Team Second Team...

Weber adds two more state medals (11/12/07) ST. PETER'S -- Mason Weber was hoping for top-three finishes in his two individual events at the MSHSAA Boys' Swimming Championships in St. Peter's. The Marshall junior did so four times, in both the preliminaries and finals, in the process putting himself into consideration for all-American status. Weber placed second in the 200-yard individual medley (1:54.56) and third in the 100 breaststroke (58.72 seconds) to tally all 33 points for the Owls, who were 22nd among 43 teams...

Owls compete at state meet (11/09/07) The Marshall boys' swimming team will have entries in four events when the MSHSAA Championships begin today at the St. Peter's Rec-Plex. The Owls qualified their relay teams for the first time since the program began in the winter of 2005-06, the quartet of senior Christopher Koehn, junior Mason Weber, sophomore Khris Ward and freshman Brock Musick (above) making the cut in both the 200-yard medley and freestyle...

2007 All-NCMC Football (11/08/07) Offense First Team Second Team Defense First Team Second Team...

Owls free relay going to state (11/06/07) KANSAS CITY -- It didn't take very long for the Marshall boys' swimming team to add a second relay to the list of state qualifiers. Less than two weeks after the Owls' 200-yard medley relay met the time standard for the MSHSAA Championships at the Marshall Invitational, the same four swimmers hit the mark in the 200 freestyle at the Independent League Championships in Kansas City...

No. 3 Helias disposes of Owls (11/05/07) The Marshall football team came out as energized and emotional as it has all season Friday, but it was asking too much to expect that the fundamental problems which have plagued the club all season would magically disappear. Third-ranked Helias took the Class 4, District 13 championship from the Owls, 37-14, and will host No. 2 Lee's Summit West in Wednesday's sectional contest...

Three Owls compete at state (11/05/07) JEFFERSON CITY -- Marshall freshman cross country runner Katie Wells got her first taste of the MSHSAA Class 3 Championships on Saturday at Jefferson City, and gave a good accounting of herself. No, Wells didn't medal -- the first meet of the season in which she didn't finish near the front -- but her 55th-place showing in a field of 165 runners was 12th-best among freshmen...

No. 3 Helias do or die for Owls (11/02/07) There's little doubt about what the Marshall football team has to do today to return claim the Class 4, District 13 title and return to the playoffs. Win. Win big. Hope for help. The Owls host third-ranked Helias in the regular season finale, needing a win and -- barring an upset of Smith-Cotton by 2-7 Mexico -- by the maximum of 13 points credited under the Missouri system. Even then, the Bulldogs must somehow avoid losing by more than 12 points...

Moberly ends Owls season (11/02/07) MOBERLY -- It was a familiar scene for Marshall head boys' soccer coach Derek Lark. The Owls' difficulty in generating offense came back to bite them Thursday during the Class 2, District 7 Tournament championship match, with host Moberly's lone goal holding up for a 1-0 victory...

Owls knock off No. 1 seed, advance to district final (10/31/07) MOBERLY -- Despite its fifth-place finish in the NCMC, the Marshall boys' soccer team had shown it could play with anybody. That was proven Tuesday as the fifth-seeded Owls shocked No. 1 Hannibal in the semifinal round of the Class 2, District 7 Tournament at Moberly. A long-range boot by senior Ricardo Lemus gave Marshall a 1-0 decision and a spot in the finals against Moberly, which beat Kirksville 1-0 on an "own" goal...

Three Owl harriers going to state (10/30/07) KANSAS CITY -- Out with the old, in with the new. A changing of the guard for the Marshall cross country team was completed Saturday during the Class 3, District 7 Championships at Kansas City's Swope Park, where two freshmen were among the Owls' three state qualifiers and both of the squad's seniors saw their prep careers end...

Analysis/Owls still have shot at playoffs (10/30/07) It's hard to imagine any football team which was stomped so thoroughly as was Marshall during Friday's 49-21 Class 4, District 13 loss at Smith-Cotton to still have post-season aspirations, but such was the case. In fact, the Owls -- unlike their conquerors -- have a shot at returning to the playoffs. ...

Owls crushed by Smith-Cotton (10/29/07) SEDALIA -- When Marshall head football coach Paul Thomas instructed his defense on gap control, the players apparently thought that meant limiting their credit card charges at the upscale clothing store. The Owls certainly didn't apply the lessons on the field, yielding 388 rushing yards during a 49-21 loss Friday at Class 4, District 13 foe Smith-Cotton. ...

Owls advance to district semis (10/29/07) MOBERLY -- The Marshall boys' soccer team has been playing tough against everyone in the NCMC, even if there aren't many wins to show for it. The trend of close losses was broken, none too soon, Saturday in the first round of the Class 2, District 7 Tournament at Moberly -- where the Owls were in command during a 2-0 victory over Fulton, which had won the previous meeting Sept. 18 on penalty kicks...

Lady Owls finish fifth in state (10/29/07) EXCELSIOR SPRINGS -- The Marshall volleyball team didn't reach the Promised Land, but it came closer than ever Saturday. The Lady Owls posted their first-ever playoff win, against an old friend in the opener of the Class 3, Section 2 Tournament at Excelsior Springs, but were eliminated in the quarterfinal round to finish among four teams tie for fifth place in the state...

Owls look to go 2-0 in District 13 play (10/26/07) Marshall head coach Paul Thomas doesn't fancy himself a prognosticator, but the writing on the wall for Friday's Class 4, District 13 clash at Smith-Cotton. "If we don't stop the running game, it will be a long night," Thomas forecast, haunted by video of Tigers junior Solomon Watkins tearing through opposing defenses to the tune of 1,192 yards and 16 touchdowns in 113 carries -- an average of 10.6 yards per attempt...

Lady Owls back in playoffs (10/25/07) GRAIN VALLEY -- The Class 3, District 13 Tournament final was only a few minutes away Wednesday night, so what was the defending champion Marshall volleyball team doing to get ready? Gathered in an erratic circle, laughing and dancing in the Grain Valley cafeteria, of course. No wonder that the Lady Owls were loose as a goose until the near the end of the 25-17, 25-21 victory over Excelsior Springs which took them back to the playoffs...

Owls close regular season with NCMC win (10/24/07) The eight seniors on the Marshall boys’ soccer team got to enjoy their last home match Tuesday, beating NCMC rival Mexico 2-0. The Bulldogs (6-15, 0-10 NCMC) finished in the conference basement, but Marshall head coach Derek Lark considered them “a much better team” than the one his Owls thumped 5-0 on Sept. 20. Meanwhile, Lark wasn’t enthused about his club’s “poor” play during a scoreless first half...

Bueker spikers finish season undefeated (10/24/07) The Bueker Middle School eighth-grade volleyball teams went unbeaten during the regular season, both the “A” and “B” teams going 12-0 for the first time since 2001. “This was a wonderful and dedicated bunch of girls,” remarked MBS coach Beth Blumhorst. “I’m very proud of them.”...

Bueker spikers finish season undefeated (10/24/07) The Bueker Middle School eight-grade volleyball teams went unbeaten during the regular season, both the “A” and “B” teams going 12-0 for the first time since 2001. “This was a wonderful and dedicated bunch of girls,” remarked MBS coach Beth Blumhorst. “I’m very proud of them.”...

Owls’ relay going to state (10/23/07) This year when Mason Weber goes to the MSHSAA Boys’ Swimming Championships, he will â€" as The Beatles urged â€" “get by with a little help from my friends.” The first two seasons of the Marshall program saw Weber making the trip to St. Peter’s all alone, winning four medals, but as a junior he’ll be joined by the other three members of the 200-yard medley relay team...

Marshall grinds out first home win (10/22/07) It’s nice to have Anthony Thompson back up to full speed. The Marshall football team counted heavily on the all-state senior slotback’s big plays and the grinding determination of senior Cody Dusenberry â€" along with the senior secondary trio of Geoff Brayman, Andrew Bridges and Michael Johnson â€" to secure its first home victory of the season Friday...

Boys’ Soccer/Hannibal 2, Marshall 1 (ot) (10/22/07) The Marshall boys’ soccer team has given every team in the NCMC a hard time, but has few wins to show for its effort. Hannibal got a “golden goal” from junior Jake Stamp four minutes into overtime to clinch an outright league title with a 2-1 decision on the MHS pitch. The Owls have lost five of their last six conference matches, four in extra periods...

Volleyball/Marshall 2, Hannibal 0 (10/22/07) The Marshall volleyball team wasn’t able to win its third straight NCMC regular season title, but did avenge on its losses Saturday with a 25-17, 25-23 victory over Hannibal in the home finale. The Lady Pirates (8-17-1, 3-3 NCMC) were on the defensive almost from the start, with junior Chelsea Reutenauer coming up with a match-high 12 digs. However, Hannibal also gave up 12 service aces, three each by seniors Sierra Cuda and Kristen Thomas...

Owl harriers fourth at Richmond Invitational (10/22/07) RICHMOND â€" The Marshall boys’ cross country team placed three runners in the top 25 of a large field Thursday at the Richmond Invitational, taking fourth place. The Owls’ 98 points put them in close contention with Kearney (93 points) in third place, but West Platte (41) ran away with the title behind the victory of senior Zach Layton (17:02)...

Marshall duo earns second state medal (10/22/07) SPRINGFIELD â€" Marshall seniors Amy Durham and Courtney Henley headed to Springfield for the MSHSAA Class 1 Girls’ Tennis Individual Championships determined to recapture the medal which slipped away from them the previous year. The Lady Owls knew from past experience that the best route to the late rounds was by early wins. ...

Mexico visits to open Owls’ district season (10/19/07) So what gives with these football Owls of Marshall? With the opening of the Class 4, District 13 campaign today against visiting NCMC rival Mexico, there seems to be a disconnect between the Owls who posted impressive, emotional victories at perennial nemesis Warrensburg and Hannibal -- winning there for the first time in 20 years -- and who flopped flatly at home against Fulton and Kirksville...

2007 All-NCMC Softball (10/18/07) ...

Marshall's Lamberson wins state medal (10/17/07) BOLIVAR -- Morgan Lamberson knew she had her work cut out for her if she was going to get into the medal chase at MSHSAA Class 2 Girls' Golf Championships at Bolivar. The Marshall sophomore was tied with two other players in 21st position after Monday's first round, her 85 three strokes behind the score of the top 15 required for a state medal. As she had done last year, Lamberson staged a second-day charge...

Owls pick up three all-conference medals (10/17/07) MOBERLY -- The Moberly Invitational a fortnight earlier proved to be a fairly reliable indicator of what would happen Saturday during the NCMC Championships. The top three teams on both the boys' and girls' side finished in the same order, the main difference being that Kirksville junior David Huskisson (16:44) -- winner of the Marshall Invitational -- overcame the defending conference champion, Mexico sophomore Hayden Legg. Hannibal's Emma Burdett (20:10) again won the girls' title...

Owls win Smith-Cotton invite (10/16/07) SEDALIA -- Three days earlier at the Raytown double-dual meet, the Marshall boys' swimming team was looking for times instead of points. While the Owls were still hoping to add qualifiers for the MSHSAA Championships during Saturday's Smith-Cotton Invitational, they entered a full line-up -- and emerged from the pool with the first-pace trophy, edging Webb City by a point, 216 to 215. This despite not having any divers, as opposed to the Cardinals' four...

Girls' Golf/Marshall's Lamberson in state medal hunt (10/16/07) BOLIVAR -- Marshall sophomore Morgan Lamberson is off to a better start during her second appearance in the MSHSAA Class 2 Girls' Golf Championships than she did the first time. Lamberson shot an 85 in the opening round on the par-72 Silo Ridge Golf and Country Club at Bolivar to tie for 21st place. A year ago, she had to come back from a first-round 93 at Deer Lake in Springfield to finish 31st...

Lady Owls third at Versailles tourney (10/15/07) VERSAILLES -- Marshall head volleyball coach Mike Schwartz was hoping for a good performance from his club Saturday at the Versailles Tournament, and seemed to get it. The Lady Owls lost only one match -- in the semifinals, 25-16, 25-17, to perennial power Rosati-Kain of St. Louis, which has won the meet eight of the last 10 years -- and finished third...

Kirksville powers past Owls (10/15/07) Senior Brian Hennke and the offensive line which paved his path like a road grader ran for 150 yards and three touchdowns Friday as Kirksville flattened the Marshall football team for a 42-20 NCMC victory. Hennke picked up almost all of his yards between the tackles, much of it after contact, due to a front line which shoved the Owls out of the way -- forcing them to grasp helplessly at the powerful 200-pounder, with no more effect than the brushes of a car wash could restrain a locomotive...

Lady Owls stopped short of state (10/15/07) ST. LOUIS -- Marshall's quest to return to the MSHSAA Class 1 Girls' Tennis Team Championships for the first time since 2001 hit its usual roadblock Saturday in St. Louis. However, the Lady Owls acquitted themselves nicely during a 5-1 sectional loss to defending state champion Mary Institute/Country Day School, winning 78 games against their powerful adversary...

Lady Owls pound Mexico (10/12/07) The season has been a yo-yo for the Marshall volleyball team. While the Lady Owls' four-year hold on the NCMC championship was broken with a pair of losses to Fulton, their success against Class 3, District 13 foes has put them in a good position to return to the playoffs...

Boys' Soccer/Moberly 2, Marshall 1 (ot) (10/12/07) MOBERLY -- The Marshall and Moberly boys' soccer teams staged one of their classic battles Thursday, with the Spartans getting a "golden goal" from senior Rian White to claim a 2-1 NCMC home win. Two weeks ago the teams went scoreless through two overtime periods until Moberly won a shoot-out on the MHS pitch, but this was an offensive contest from the start -- the two teams combining for 33 shots on goal, 20 by the Spartans...

Owls close in on state marks (10/12/07) RAYTOWN -- Given the size of the opponents' programs, and the few dates remaining until the MSHSAA Championships, Marshall boys' swimming coach Amber Tottingham tried a different tack Wednesday during a double-dual meet at Raytown. "We decided to go for state times instead of overall points," Tottingham explained. Did it work? "We came so close."...

Owls hoping for happy Homecoming (10/12/07) Besides breaking a three-game losing streak, the Marshall football team's first victory at Hannibal in 20 years last week may have reaffirmed a lesson its coaches have been attempting to instill all season. "They did what we asked them to do and trusted their teammates," explained Owls head coach Paul Thomas. "I hope it will give us the confidence to play like that every game...

Lady Owls second in NCMC meet (10/11/07) MEXICO -- The NCMC Tournament used to be a pretty big deal late in the girls' golf season, but attendance was spotty during Wednesday's meet at Mexico. Only four of the league's six schools had teams, and one of those was incomplete, with only 17 girls competing on the varsity level. ...

Prep Net Round-up/Ervin, Lady Owls ace Rock Bridge (10/10/07) COLUMBIA -- Senior Cortni Ervin's jump serve can at times bedevil opponents, and that seemed the case Tuesday as the Marshall volleyball team enjoyed a 26-28, 25-16, 25-12 non-conference victory at Rock Bridge (8-9). Ervin recorded a school-record nine aces -- along with a team-high 12 kills, plus 15 digs and a pair of blocks -- while putting all 21 of her serves in play...

Boys' Soccer/Helias 2, Marshall 0 (10/10/07) JEFFERSON CITY -- With four starters out for the first half, and one missing for the game, the Marshall boys' soccer team was forced into playing defense Tuesday during a non-conference match at Helias. The main defensive effort was turned in by senior goalkeeper Mike Sartor, who stopped 15 of 17 shots during a 2-0 loss. ...

Girls' Tennis/Marshall 6, Carrollton 0 (10/10/07) The Carrollton girls' tennis program's first foray into the MSHSAA Class 1 post-season was bound to be a short one Tuesday at Marshall, making its 21st straight playoff appearance. The Lady Owls, after all, had won all five matches against MRVC schools by 9-0 scores and had dominated the District 4 Tournament on Saturday. The Lady Trojans (8-9) were unable to avoid becoming Marshall's 16th shutout victim this season, losing all six completed matches...

Owl harriers fourth at Clinton Invitational (10/09/07) CLINTON -- Three members of the Marshall boys' cross country team medalled Saturday during the Clinton Invitational. Freshman Damon Thompson (19:18.7) finished ninth, junior Matt Bledsoe (19:45.7) was 12th and senior Bryan Beck came in 16th in a field of 39 runners in the large school division -- the Owls tallying 72 points to place fourth. Senior José Ojeda (17:40.5) led Smith-Cotton (42 points) to the title by taking first...

Boys' Swimming/Marshall third at Raytown Invitational (10/09/07) RAYTOWN -- Junior Mason Weber extended his personal unbeaten streak to 16 straight races Saturday as the Marshall boys' swimming team finished third in the Raytown Invitational. Weber won the 200-yard individual medley (2:02.86) for the fourth time this season and claimed his third victory in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.65), lowering his personal record by .04 seconds...

Owls' defense stifles Hannibal (10/08/07) HANNIBAL -- The long-dormant Marshall defense awoke Friday at Hannibal, not allowing a touchdown to break a three-game slump with a 28-7 NCMC victory. The Owls bent a little, but never broke. The Pirates got into the "red zone" four times, but never crossed the goal line -- Marshall taking the ball away twice inside its own 10-yard line...

Marshall splits at Indy tourney (10/08/07) INDEPENDENCE -- Summertime heat eventually took its toll Saturday on a Marshall boys' soccer team forced to play back-to-back matches at the Independence Tournament. After a 3-1 victory over William Chrisman in the early contest, the Owls dropped a 4-3 decision to Harrisonville in the hot afternoon...

Lady Owls claim fourth straight District 4 title (10/08/07) The Farewell Victory Tour for the four senior starters on the Marshall girls' tennis team will last a little while longer. All of the upperclassmen advanced to the MSHSAA Class 1 Championships as the Lady Owls dominated the District 4 Tournament on their home courts Saturday...

Lady Owls' season ends suddenly (10/05/07) WARRENSBURG -- Despite being the bottom seed, the Marshall softball team had no intention of exiting the Class 3, District 13 Tournament meekly. The Lady Owls battled No. 3 seed Versailles down to the wire during Thursday's opening round, dropping a 5-4 decision in the bottom of the seventh inning...

Lady Owls' season ends suddenly (10/05/07) WARRENSBURG -- Despite being the bottom seed, the Marshall softball team had no intention of exiting the Class 3, District 13 Tournament meekly. The Lady Owls battled No. 3 seed Versailles down to the wire during Thursday's opening round, dropping a 5-4 decision in the bottom of the seventh inning...

Struggling Owls, Hannibal meet (10/05/07) The tides of fortune are drifting out to sea two of the three teams which shared the NCMC footb